Columbia Eve Fest offers activities for New Year's Eve

COLUMBIA - Columbia's 20th annual New Year's Eve block party returns to the city Wednesday night with live music, dance parties, and fireworks.

Columbia Eve Fest was created to bring the community together and welcome visitors to Columbia.

The festival will have all types of music, dancing, comedy, and art to help participants bring in the New Year.

Eve Fest Director Jane Accurso said the festival is open to people of all ages and interests.

"This is a great impact on Columbia. It brings in visitors from out of town, it allows families to be together and celebrate, especially with their children. It's an alcohol free event so that gives it a good alternative choice for New Years," Accurso said.

Directors said now that they have condensed the festival to one block, participants will find it safer and easier in the cold weather.

Eve Fest participant Dan Miller said he's hoping for a big crowd.

"Sometimes it depends upon the weather and what day of the week it is. I think people will come out and since it's the second year for the Jam session, we're hoping that people last year told their friends and we'll have a bigger turnout there," Miller said.

This year, Eve Fest partnered with several city departments to start an energy challenge.

The challenge is to help the Columbia community become more energy efficient.

Accurso said the challenge will be beneficial to residents.

"We're real excited to have the departments come in and show the community about what resources are available and how much they can do in their own homes and their own lifestyles to become more green in 2015," Accurso said.

There will be a 5-K run that starts at 4 p.m.in front of Cycle Extreme just to kick off the fest.

Columbia Eve Fest will start at 7 p.m., and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Eve Fest will be on the 9th Street in the closed off block between Elm and Locust.

For more information about music workshops, the 5-K run and CoMo Energy Challenge, visit www.columbiaevefest.com